Iceland is the perfect destination for a seasoned traveler, a first-time solo traveler or an adventurous family looking for a road trip around the island. With friendly locals, stunning scenery, tons of adventure, and a vibrant tourist scene, you should experience Iceland at least once in your life. I’ve been back twice now and each trip brings something new.
Tips for your first trip to Iceland!
- Icelanders tend to pay for everything using credit or debit cards so you don’t need to worry about carrying cash on you.
- If you’re planning to explore the whole island, I highly recommend hiring a campervan in Iceland! You’ll save money on accommodation, and it’s the best way to explore the country’s famous Ring Road!
- It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting Iceland in the spring, summer, autumn or winter, the island’s weather is always unpredictable. Good boots and thermal leggings were lifesavers for me on both my trips to Iceland.
- Iceland is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe. If you’re planning a trip on a shoe-string, you’re going to end up spending a lot more on basics like food, gas, and accommodation.
- While the main language in Iceland is Icelandic, pretty much everyone speaks English. You’ll be able to find English speakers in the touristy areas.
To help you out, here is a list of the top places to visit in Iceland that you can consider for your next trip: –
- Area: 7,900 km²
- Terminus: Outlet glaciers
Vatnajökull is the largest and most voluminous ice cap in Iceland, and the second largest in Europe after the island’s ice cap. Severny by Novaya Zemlya. It is in the south-east of the island, covering about 8% of the country. Vatnajökull is approximately 8,100 square kilometers (3,127 square miles); although it is declining rapidly due to climate change, its recession is not as advanced as on other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In some areas, it is a mile deep (over three thousand feet) and its average thickness is about half that. Vatnajökull also holds Iceland’s highest peak under its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 meters high (7,218 feet). It also hides some of the country’s most active volcanoes, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull, and Bárðarbunga. Volcanic activity in the area has occurred intermittently over the centuries, and many geologists believe several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the next half century. The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years.
- Best time to visit: Summer is the best time to visit Landmannalaugar.
Landmannalaugar is a geothermal oasis found in the remote tundra of the interior of Iceland, in the Icelandic Highlands. It’s located in the Southern Highlands within the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, a name that means the “Mountain’s Back”. From Reykjavík, it is about 3-hour drive (112 mi. / 180 km) to Landmannalaugar, even though it’s always good to count on having quite a few stops along the way as the landscape is too beautiful to drive past without stopping. Visiting Landmannalaugar can fit in a day trip. The most remarkable natural attraction is the unique landscape itself. The mountains are made of rhyolite while the other geological elements – such as sulfur, iron, and moss – have painted the slopes in various shades of brown, yellow, pink, red, and blue. The most impressive lava field, Laugahraun, and the neighboring fields of Hrafntinnuhraun and Namshraun were created between 872 and 1480 CE. Colorful mountains surround these lava fields that stretch across the valleys. From the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, several hot water streams spring up and become mixed with some cold water sources to create a warm river.
- Length: 1.5 km
- Area: 18 km²
